Durga Ashtami 2031
Mahashtami — Kanya Puja and Sandhi Puja of Navratri.
Today's Panchang
Kashi reference · computed live- Tithi
- Ashtami
- till 18:59
- Nakshatra
- Bharani
- till 20:18
- Yoga
- Ganda
- Karana
- Balava
- Sunrise
- 05:27
- Sunset
- 18:40
- Moon sign
- Aries
- Sun sign
- Cancer
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:00
- Sunset17:24
- Fasting window (tithi)02:09 → 23:59
- Parana (tithi ends)23:59
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Durga Ashtami puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaDurga Ashtami — Frequently Asked Questions
When is Durga Ashtami celebrated?
On the Ashtami of the Shukla Paksha of Ashvina — the eighth day of Sharad Navratri, in autumn, two days before Vijayadashami. For this year's date, see the date shown above.
What is Sandhi Puja?
The worship performed across the joining of Ashtami and Navami — the last ghati of the eighth tithi and the first of the ninth. It marks the moment Durga took the Chamunda form to slay Chanda and Munda, and is the high point of Durga Puja.
Is Kanya Puja done on Ashtami or Navami?
It is done on either, and many families keep it on Mahashtami. Young girls are worshipped as living forms of the goddess, their feet washed, fed bhog, and given a gift and dakshina.
How is Durga Ashtami different from Maha Navami?
Ashtami invokes the goddess's fiercest forms and carries the Sandhi Puja; Navami, the following day, completes the worship with the homa and Ayudha Puja before the victory of Dussehra.
Other major festivals in 2031
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2031
- Vasant Panchami — 27 January 2031
- Maha Shivaratri — 20 February 2031
- Holika Dahan — 8 March 2031
- Holi — 10 March 2031
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 24 March 2031
- Ram Navami — 1 April 2031
- Akshaya Tritiya — 24 April 2031
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 22 June 2031
- Guru Purnima — 4 July 2031
- Nag Panchami — 24 July 2031
- Raksha Bandhan — 3 August 2031
- Krishna Janmashtami — 8 September 2031
- Hartalika Teej — 19 September 2031
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 20 September 2031
- Anant Chaturdashi — 29 September 2031
- Pitru Paksha begins — 1 October 2031
- Sharad Navratri begins — 17 October 2031
- Maha Navami — 24 October 2031
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 25 October 2031
- Karwa Chauth — 2 November 2031
- Dhanteras — 12 November 2031
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 13 November 2031
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 14 November 2031
- Govardhan Puja — 15 November 2031
- Bhai Dooj — 16 November 2031
- Chhath Puja — 20 November 2031
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 28 November 2031
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 28 November 2031
- Hindu Festivals 2031 →